JP6302863B2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus.

  An electronic endoscope system guides light from a light source device to an electronic endoscope that is a scope, irradiates this light from a tip part to an observation area, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) disposed at the tip part, and the like The region to be observed is imaged by. In this type of electronic endoscope system, the electronic endoscope is detachably connected to an external device such as a light source device or a processor device via a cable via a connector, and a video signal is monitored via the processor device. Supplied to.

  When the above-described electronic endoscope system is used particularly for medical diagnosis, a cleaning operation for cleaning and disinfecting the electronic endoscope inserted into the body cavity of the subject is necessary. For this reason, a separate airtight means such as a waterproof cap can be attached to the electrical connector portion of the electronic endoscope, which is an electrical contact for communicating with an external device, when performing a cleaning operation. Yes. However, since this airtight means is relatively large and heavy, it takes time to attach and detach the connector. In addition, if a cleaning operation is performed without attaching the airtight means, there is a possibility that the electrical connector portion may be submerged in the electronic endoscope. On the other hand, when an optical connector portion that is not electrically connected to an external device is provided in the electronic endoscope, the airtight means described above is adopted by adopting a waterproof structure for the optical connector portion. The electronic endoscope can be cleaned without using (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-155740 JP 2013-208187 A

  When the cleaning operation is performed in a state where the electronic endoscope described above is detached from the external device, the optical connector portion of the electronic endoscope may be applied with a cleaning liquid or water at a high pressure. For this reason, a particularly high airtightness is required in the space provided with the optical semiconductor element or the like in the optical connector portion.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an endoscope apparatus capable of improving the airtightness of a space in which an optical semiconductor element or the like in a connector portion exists.

  An endoscope apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an endoscope apparatus including a connector unit that is connected to an external device and transmits and receives an optical signal to and from the external device, and the connector units communicate with each other. A hollow metal member having two openings, an optical semiconductor element press-fitted and fixed to one opening side of the hollow metal member so that the periphery can be sealed, and a lens provided on the other opening side of the hollow metal member And a first sealing member that fixes the lens to the hollow metal member and seals between the lens and the hollow metal member.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the endoscope apparatus which can improve the airtightness of the space where the optical semiconductor element etc. in a connector part exists can be provided.

1 is an external view of an example of an electronic endoscope apparatus for describing an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of the electronic endoscope apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of each connector of the electronic endoscope and processor apparatus of FIG. It is a front view of the connector of the electronic endoscope of FIG. FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along line VV shown in FIG. 3.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an electronic endoscope system for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

  The electronic endoscope system 1 includes an electronic endoscope 2 that is an endoscope device, a processor device 3 that is an external device, and a monitor 4 that is connected to the processor device 3.

  The electronic endoscope 2 includes an insertion unit 10 that is inserted into a body cavity of a subject, an operation unit 11 that is connected to the insertion unit 10, and a universal cord 12 that extends from the operation unit 11. A connector 13 is provided at the end of the universal cord 12, and the connector 13 is connected to a connector 14 provided in the processor device 3, and the electronic endoscope 2 and the processor device 3 are connected via the connectors 13 and 14. Connected. The electronic endoscope 2 connected to the processor device 3 via both connectors 13 and 14 can communicate with the processor device 3 by exchanging optical signals.

  FIG. 2 shows functional blocks of the electronic endoscope system 1.

  The distal end portion of the insertion portion 10 of the electronic endoscope 2 is provided with an illumination optical system 20 that irradiates illumination light, and an objective optical system 21 and an imaging device 22 that receives an image formed by the objective optical system 21. ing.

  Illumination light emitted from the illumination optical system 20 is generated by a light source 24 provided in the processor device 3, and from the light source 24 to the illumination optical system 20 by a light guide 25 included in the universal cord 12 (see FIG. 1). Led.

  The imaging device 22 drives an imaging device 28 such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor, and a drive readout circuit 29 that drives the imaging device 28 and reads an image signal from the imaging device 28. And have. The drive readout circuit 29 includes, for example, a driver of the image sensor 28, an amplifier that amplifies an image signal read from the image sensor 28, an A / D converter that digitally converts the image signal, and the like.

  The operating power of the image sensor 28 and the drive readout circuit 29, the control signal input to the drive readout circuit 29, and the image signal output from the drive readout circuit 29 are transmitted by the wiring group 30 included in the universal code 12, The data is exchanged between the electronic endoscope 2 and the processor device 3 via the connectors 13 and 14.

  The connector 13 is provided with an input / output unit 31 that exchanges the power and signals with the connector 14 of the processor device 3 and a contact unit 32 connected to the ground of the electronic endoscope 2.

  The processor device 3 includes an input / output unit 33, a contact unit 34, and a circuit unit 35.

  The input / output unit 33 is provided in the connector 14 and exchanges the power and signals with the connector 13 of the electronic endoscope 2 connected to the connector 14. The contact portion 34 is also provided on the connector 14 and is connected to a grounded case 36 of the processor device 3 via a capacitor C1.

  The circuit unit 35 includes, for example, a power supply circuit 37 that generates power to be supplied to the image sensor 28 and the drive readout circuit 29 from a commercial power supply (not shown), and a signal processing circuit 38 that processes a signal of the drive readout circuit 29. The signal processing circuit 38 includes, for example, a control circuit that controls the operation of the drive readout circuit 29, an image processing circuit that generates image data by performing various signal processing such as white balance correction on the image signal, and the like. The image data generated by the signal processing circuit 38 is displayed on the monitor 4 (see FIG. 1).

  The input / output unit 31 of the connector 13 and the input / output unit 33 of the connector 14 are insulated from each other and exchange power and signals. In this specification, “insulation” means that conductors for transmitting electric power and signals are separated, and the conductors are separated between the input / output units 31 and 33.

  In the illustrated example, the coil 40 is provided in each of the input / output units 31 and 33, and the pair of the coils 40 is disposed in a non-contact manner in a state where the connectors 13 and 14 are connected to each other, and electromagnetic induction is performed. The power is transmitted while keeping insulation from each other.

  Further, in the input / output units 31 and 33, a light emitting element 41a that is an optical semiconductor element is provided on the output side of each signal, and a light receiving element 41b that is an optical semiconductor element is provided on the input side, and the light emitting element 41a and the light receiving element 41b are provided. The pair of connectors 13 and 14 are arranged to face each other through a lens or the like in a state where the connectors 13 and 14 are connected to each other, and transmit signals while maintaining insulation from each other using light.

  Note that the power with insulation is not limited to the above method. For example, a magnetic resonance method using the coil 40 as a resonator can be used for power transfer.

  On the other hand, the contact portion 32 of the connector 13 and the contact portion 34 of the connector 14 are in contact with each other in a state where the connectors 13 and 14 are connected to each other, and the ground of the electronic endoscope 2 and the casing 36 of the processor device 3 Are conducted to each other.

  In the electronic endoscope system 1 described above, the image pickup device 22 (the image pickup element 28 and the drive readout circuit 29) is illustrated as an electronic device mounted on the electronic endoscope 2. However, the electronic endoscope system 1 is mounted on the electronic endoscope 2. The electronic device to be used is not limited to the imaging device 22. For example, in the electronic endoscope system 1 described above, the illumination light generated by the light source 24 of the processor device 3 is guided to the distal end portion of the insertion portion 10 of the electronic endoscope 2 by the light guide 25 and irradiated from the illumination optical system 20. Although configured, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and its drive circuit may be provided at the distal end of the insertion portion 10 to generate illumination light by the LED.

  3 and 4 show the configuration of the connector 13 of the electronic endoscope 2 and the connector 14 of the processor device 3.

  The connector 13 of the electronic endoscope 2 has a fitting portion 42 formed in a convex shape, and the connector 14 of the processor device 3 has a fitting portion 43 formed in a concave shape. The fitting portions 42 and 43 are fitted to each other as the connectors 13 and 14 are connected to each other, and the fitting portion 42 of the connector 13 is covered by the fitting portion 43 of the connector 14.

  In the illustrated example, the convex fitting portion 42 is provided at a substantially central portion of the connector 13, and the fitting portion 42 holds the end portion of the light guide 25 that guides illumination light. In addition, a coil 40 for transmitting and receiving electric power is provided on one side of both sides of the connector 13 with the fitting portion 42 interposed therebetween, and a connector portion formed in a convex shape is provided on the other side. There are provided a light emitting connector part 51 and a light receiving connector part 52 for transmitting and receiving signals. In addition, the connector 14 is provided with two fitting portions 53 and 54 formed in a concave shape, which are different from the fitting portion 43. The light emitting connector portion 51 is fitted to the fitting portion 53 along with the mutual connection of the connectors 13 and 14, and the light receiving connector portion 52 is fitted to the fitting portion 54 along with the mutual connection of the connectors 13 and 14. Mating.

  FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line VV of the light emitting connector portion 51 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the light emitting connector 51 includes a light emitting element 41a mounted on a substrate 61, a lens 62, and a substantially cylindrical hollow metal member 63 having two openings 63A and 63B communicating with each other. Have. The light emitting element 41a is press-fitted into one opening 63A of the hollow metal member 63, and a sealant 64 having adhesiveness mainly composed of silicon is formed in a region between the light emitting element 41a, the hollow metal member 63, and the substrate 61. Filled. The sealant 64 as the second sealing member seals between the light emitting element 41 a and the hollow metal member 63, and also seals between the substrate 61 and the hollow metal member 63.

  A lens 62 is disposed in the other opening 63 </ b> B of the hollow metal member 63. The lens 62 is fixed by the fixing member 68 from the opening 63B side through an O-ring 67 formed of an elastic body while being supported by a stepped portion 66 provided in the hollow portion 65 of the hollow metal member 63. The O-ring 67 is locked between the lens 62 and the hollow metal member 63, and the fixing member 68 is screwed on the outer peripheral surface of the hollow metal member 63 so that the O-ring 67 is sandwiched between the lens 62 and the lens. It fixes between 62 and the hollow metal member 63. FIG. In this embodiment, the O-ring 67 and the fixing member 68 constitute a first sealing member, and the O-ring 67 as a waterproof member deformed by the pressing force from the fixing member 68 is formed between the lens 62 and the hollow metal member 63. Seal the gap.

  The opening 63 </ b> B of the hollow metal member 63 in which the lens 62 is disposed is located on the tip side of the light emitting connector part 51 formed in a convex shape, and the opening 63 </ b> A is located on the back side of the light emitting connector part 51. A transparent member 71 for protecting the lens 62 is provided further on the distal end side from the opening 63B of the hollow metal member 63 in which the lens 62 is disposed and the fixing member 68 is screwed. The transparent member 71 is provided in a cavity on one opening 73 side of the holding member 72 having two communicating openings, and closes the opening 73. The transparent member 71 is fixed by a pressing member 75 inserted into the cavity from another opening of the holding member 72 through an O-ring 74 formed of an elastic body. The O-ring 74 as the third sealing member is locked between the transparent member 71 and the holding member 72, and the holding member 75 is screwed on the inner peripheral surface of the holding member 72 to open the O-ring 74. Press to the 73 side. The O-ring 74 deformed by the pressing force from the pressing member 75 seals between the transparent member 71 and the holding member 72.

  The holding member 72 with the transparent member 71 fixed to the opening 73 side is fixed to the hollow metal member 63 by fitting into the hollow metal member 63 from the other opening and screwing on the outer peripheral surface of the hollow metal member 63. In a state where the holding member 72 is fixed to the hollow metal member 63, a closed space 76 is formed between the transparent member 71 and the lens 62. Since the space between the transparent member 71 and the holding member 72 is sealed by the O-ring 74, the space 76 is hermetically sealed.

  In the light emitting connector unit 51 configured as described above, the light emitted from the light emitting element 41 a passes through the lens 62 and the transparent member 71 and is output to the outside from the tip of the light emitting connector unit 51. The light receiving connector part 52 has the same configuration as the light emitting connector part 51 except that the light receiving element 41b is provided instead of the light emitting element 41a.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since the light emitting element 41a is press-fitted into the one opening 73 side of the hollow metal member 63 and the lens 62 is provided on the other opening 73 side, the position of the light emitting element 41a and the lens 62 is determined. Matching can be performed reliably. In addition, the gap between the light emitting element 41a and the hollow metal member 63 is sealed with a sealant 64, and the gap between the lens and the hollow metal member 63 is also sealed with an O-ring 67 fixed by a fixing member 68. The airtightness of the cavity 65 of the hollow metal member 63 in which the light emitting element 41a is present can be sufficiently maintained. Further, since the space between the transparent member 71 provided on the distal end side of the light emitting connector part 51 and the holding member 72 with respect to the lens 62 is sealed by an O-ring 74, it is formed between the lens 62 and the transparent member 71. The space 76 is hermetically sealed.

  Therefore, when the cleaning operation is performed with the electronic endoscope 2 removed from the processor device 3, the hollow metal member 63 in which the light emitting element 41a exists even if the connector 13 is exposed to a cleaning liquid or water under high pressure. The airtightness of the space 76 formed between the portion 65 and the lens 62 and the transparent member 71 is sufficiently maintained.

  As described above, the endoscope apparatus disclosed in this specification is an endoscope apparatus that includes a connector unit that is connected to an external apparatus and transmits and receives an optical signal to and from the external apparatus. The connector includes a hollow metal member having two openings communicating with each other, an optical semiconductor element press-fitted and fixed to one opening side of the hollow metal member so that the periphery can be sealed, and the other opening of the hollow metal member And a first sealing member that fixes the lens to the hollow metal member and seals between the lens and the hollow metal member.

  Moreover, the said connector part is provided with the 2nd sealing member which seals between the board | substrate with which the said optical semiconductor element was attached, and the said hollow metal member.

  The connector part includes a second sealing member that seals between the optical semiconductor element and the hollow metal member.

  The first sealing member is engaged between the waterproof member formed of an elastic body, which is locked between the lens and the hollow metal member, and the hollow metal member. A fixing member that is fixed between the lens and the hollow metal member.

  The second sealing member includes a sealant.

  Further, the lens is provided on the distal end side of the connector portion with respect to the optical semiconductor element, and includes a transparent member for protecting the lens closer to the distal end side of the connector portion than the lens.

  A holding member that holds the transparent member and forms a closed space between the transparent member and the lens; and a third sealing member that hermetically seals the space.

  The optical semiconductor element is a light emitting element.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic endoscope system 2 Electronic endoscope 3 Processor apparatus 4 Monitor 10 Insertion part 11 Operation part 12 Universal cord 13 Connector part 14 Connector part 20 Illumination optical system 21 Objective optical system 22 Imaging device 24 Light source 25 Light guide 28 Imaging element 29 drive readout circuit 30 wiring group 31 input / output unit 33 input / output unit 35 circuit unit 40 coil 41a light emitting element 41b light receiving element 42 fitting unit 43 fitting unit 51 light emitting connector unit 52 light receiving connector unit 61 substrate 62 lens 63 hollow metal member 63A, 63B Opening 64 Sealant 67 O-ring 68 Fixing member 71 Transparent member 72 Holding member 75 Pressing member 74 O-ring 76 Space

Claims (8)

An endoscope apparatus including a connector unit that is connected to an external device and exchanges optical signals with the external device,
The connector part is
A hollow metal member having two openings in communication with each other;
An optical semiconductor element press-fitted and fixed to one opening side of the hollow metal member so that the periphery can be sealed;
A lens provided on the other opening side of the hollow metal member;
A first sealing member that fixes the lens to the hollow metal member and seals between the lens and the hollow metal member;
An endoscopic device comprising: The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1,
The said connector part is an endoscope apparatus provided with the 2nd sealing member which seals between the board | substrate with which the said optical semiconductor element was attached, and the said hollow metal member. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The said connector part is an endoscope apparatus provided with the 2nd sealing member which seals between the said optical semiconductor element and the said hollow metal member. The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The first sealing member is
A waterproof member formed of an elastic body, which is locked between the lens and the hollow metal member;
A fixing member that engages with the hollow metal member and fixes the waterproof member between the lens and the hollow metal member;
An endoscopic device comprising: The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
The endoscope apparatus, wherein the second sealing member includes a sealant. The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The lens is provided on the distal end side of the connector part with respect to the optical semiconductor element
An endoscope apparatus comprising a transparent member for protecting the lens at a distal end side of the connector portion with respect to the lens. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
A holding member that holds the transparent member and forms a closed space between the transparent member and the lens;
A third sealing member for hermetically sealing the space;
An endoscopic device comprising: The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An endoscope apparatus in which the optical semiconductor element is a light emitting element.

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